Old, Overloaded Wiring Blamed For Schuylkill Fire

State police ruled that a fire that damaged a Schuylkill County home Wednesday started accidentally.

The fire on Oak Road in Washington Township forced four people from their home. Police said wiring failed because of its age and a large load.

One resident, Carolyn Leinheiser, 54, left for work at 6:20 a.m. Another resident, Mary Baab, 27, woke about 7 a.m. when she heard a child coughing from smoke. Baab dropped her two children, Gerard A., 5, and Anthony, 2, from a second-floor window before jumping.